Scored for 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani and strings.
This symphony is in three movements: The first movement, in sonata form, has for its first theme one of Haydn's most triadic themes, with the first violins not playing a note outside of the tonic chord until bar 13.
The melody is for the most part entrusted to the first violins, but the first bassoon often doubles it an octave below (while the second bassoon sticks to the usual duty of doubling the cello line in unison).
The third movement, a rondo, features dramatic contrasts of piano and forte in its main theme.
Like the other symphonies of the 1788 set of six, this one is in the CPO disc with Johannes Goritzki conducting the New German Chamber Academy.